MIXERS: SIMPLE STIRRING vs SPACE AGE

OLD: Vintage 1958 Kenwood Major A760D, from £169.99, kenmixengineering.co.uk, estimated original cost: between £27 and £32 (£581 to £689 today)

NEW: Kenwood Chef Sense, £449.99, kenwoodworld.com mr Ken Wood invented the first mixer back in 1947, and the brand has become globally renowned for marvellous machines, which, using various attachments, can make cakes, dough, beat eggs, peel potatoes and whizz up soups.

The sleek 1958 Kenwood major is beautiful. i’ve borrowed it from a vintage Kenwood expert, who has refurbished and repainted it a lovely copper colour. it reminds me of a Dalek.

The 2015 chef Sense is more squat, like Star Wars’s r2D2, and with a space-age quality.

i’m particularly impressed with the metal gadget that screws on to the front — it means you can attach old accessories.

i’m no champion baker, so i use the simple recipe my grandmother taught me to rustle up a couple of cakes — 6 oz of flour, sugar and butter, then three eggs.

i tip the ingredients into the vintage machine and turn on the dial. it purrs as the whisk whirrs around, stirring the ingredients into a smooth and creamy cake mix.

i repeat the experiment with the chef Sense, which emits more of a hum. it’s like a vintage Bentley versus an Aston martin — they’re sexy in their own ways.

i love the splash guard on the modern version, which prevents rogue cake mix from escaping. To be fair, none does from the old one, but i can see that a soup or sauce could get messy.

The chef Sense appeared to reach supersonic speed, though i’m not sure it made any difference.

i take my hat off to Kenwood. Both cakes rise impressively and are a rich golden colour with a fluffy texture. They are delicious, and far better than anything i can achieve with a wooden spoon and mixing bowl.

Both machines are brilliant, but i’ve fallen in love with the retro look of the original.